News / Transport
Rare lift of Redcliffe Bridge
“Oh wow!” a young cyclist in hi-vis exclaimed to his dad as they cycled through Redcliffe Wharf and saw Redcliffe Bridge raised – a rare sight that even people who have lived in Bristol for decades may not have seen before.
Redcliffe Bridge has not been fully operational since 2015 and on Sunday it was closed to vehicles and pedestrians for testing, with the bridge due to go up and down six times by the end of the day.
Some 20 engineers in yellow and orange swarmed onto the historic structure on Sunday in order to test, observe and monitor the performance of the electrical and mechanical components which enable the bridge to lift.
is needed now More than ever
At the moment, Redcliffe bridge is not safe to lift for general maritime use. Once the testing is complete, engineers will adjust the bridge supports as an interim measure to reduce the noise caused by the bouncing of the bridge deck.
In September 2018, Bristol’s cabinet agreed to fund essential repairs both to the bridge, and the structural stabilisation of the river wall which supports the Chocolate Path and railway along the New Cut.
It is estimated that £3m will be needed to refurbish Redcliffe Bridge and bring it back into operational use, with a budget of £5m allocated to make the Chocolate Path safe to use again.
Speaking after September’s cabinet meeting, former cabinet member for transport Mhairi Threlfall said: “We need to take action now so that we can protect these important historical landmarks around our city’s famous waterways.
“This work is essential for looking after these important structural elements of our highway network, keeping them working and stopping parts completely slipping away in to the river.
“If we do not act now these costs are likely to rise substantially. We expect that work will start next year and we will keep commuters updated for any road closures that may happen as a result of this work.”
Where is Evel Knievel when you need him?
Read more: Redcliffe Wharf development approved
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